# Vivek Ram Chaudhari > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Vivek_Ram_Chaudhari > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Vivek_Ram_Chaudhari.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivek_Ram_Chaudhari > Source revision: 1351539785 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|27th Chief of the Air Staff (India) (born 1962)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [Air Chief Marshal](/source/Air_Chief_Marshal_(India)) | name = Vivek Ram Chaudhari | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=IND|size=90%|PVSM|AVSM|VM|ADC}} | image = Chief of the air staff ACM Vivek Ram Chaudhari PVSM AVSM VM ADC.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Official portrait | office = 27th [Chief of the Air Staff](/source/Chief_of_Air_Staff_(India)) | term_start = {{Start date|2021|09|30|df=yes}} | term_end = {{Start date|2024|09|30|df=yes}} | president = {{ubl|[Ram Nath Kovind](/source/Ram_Nath_Kovind)|[Droupadi Murmu](/source/Droupadi_Murmu)}} | predecessor = [R. K. S. Bhadauria](/source/R._K._S._Bhadauria) | successor = [Amar Preet Singh](/source/Amar_Preet_Singh) | office1 = 45th [Vice Chief of the Air Staff](/source/Vice_Chief_of_Air_Staff_(India)) | term_start1 = {{Start date|2021|07|01|df=yes}} | term_end1 = {{End date|2021|09|30|df=yes}} | predecessor1 = [Harjit Singh Arora](/source/Harjit_Singh_Arora) | successor1 = [Sandeep Singh](/source/Sandeep_Singh_(air_marshal)) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|09|04|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/#section-114-24|title=CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF|publisher=Indian Air Force|date=2021-09-30}} | death_date = | death_place = | nickname = | birth_place = | allegiance = {{flag|India}} | branch = {{air force|India}} | service_years = 29 December 1982 - 30 September 2024 | rank = 25px [Air Chief Marshal](/source/Air_Chief_Marshal_(India)) | military_blank1 = [Service number](/source/Service_number) | military_data1 = 16978 | unit = [No. 28 Squadron](/source/No._28_Squadron_IAF) | commands = [Western Air Command](/source/Western_Air_Command_(India))
[Lohegaon Air Force Station](/source/Lohegaon_Air_Force_Station)
8 Forward Base Support Unit
[No. 28 Squadron](/source/No._28_Squadron_IAF) | battles = [Operation Meghdoot](/source/Operation_Meghdoot)
[Kargil war](/source/Kargil_war) | battles_label = | military_blank2 = Awards | military_data2 = 20px [Param Vishisht Seva Medal](/source/Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal)
20px [Ati Vishisht Seva Medal](/source/Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal)
20px [Vayu Sena Medal](/source/Vayu_Sena_Medal) | laterwork = | other_name = | memorials = | module = | country = India | parents = Rambhau Ganapat Chaudhari (Father) | children = 2 }} [Air Chief Marshal](/source/Air_chief_marshal_(India)) '''Vivek Ram Chaudhari''', {{Post-nominals|country=IND|PVSM|AVSM|VM|ADC}} is a retired four-star [air officer](/source/air_officer) of the [Indian Air Force](/source/Indian_Air_Force) who served as the [Chief of the Air Staff](/source/Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)). He took over as the 27th [Chief of Air Staff](/source/Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)) succeeding [Air Chief Marshal](/source/Air_Chief_Marshal_(India)) [Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria](/source/Rakesh_Kumar_Singh_Bhadauria) on 30 September 2021.{{Cite web |date=21 September 2021 |title=Air Marshal V R Chaudhari appointed next Chief of Air Staff |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1756814 |website=PIB}} He previously served as the 45th [Vice Chief of the Air Staff](/source/Vice_Chief_of_Air_Staff_(India)).{{cite web |date=2021-07-01 |title=AIR MARSHAL VIVEK RAM CHAUDHARI PVSM AVSM VM ASSUMES CHARGE AS VICE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1731870 |publisher=PIB}} He earlier served as the [Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief](/source/Air_Officer_Commanding-in-Chief_Operational_Command) [Western Air Command](/source/Western_Air_Command){{cite web|url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1642858|title= Air Marshal VR Chaudhari AVSM VM Assumes Command of Western Air Command|date=2020-08-01}} and as the [Deputy Chief of Air Staff](/source/Deputy_Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)). == Early life and education == He was born to Rambhau Ganapat Chaudhari, his mother was a school headmistress. His grandfather was a teacher at the Zila Parishad school at Koli, a village in Hadgaon taluka.{{Cite news|last=Online|first=Lokmat|date=22 September 2021|title=नांदेडचे सुपुत्र एअर मार्शल व्ही. आर. चाैधरी हाेणार नवे वायुसेना प्रमुख|trans-title=Air Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, sonnof Nanded going to become new Air chief.|work=[Lokmat](/source/Lokmat)|url=https://www.lokmat.com/maharashtra/nandeds-son-v-r-chaidhary-will-be-new-air-chief-marshal-a653/|access-date=1 October 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.lokmat.com/videos/national/bhumiputra-nanded-be-air-chief-air-marshal-vivek-ram-chaudhari-be-next-iaf-chief-a678/|title=नांदेडचे भूमिपुत्र होणार हवाईदल प्रमुख! Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari to be next IAF Chief|date=24 September 2021}} He studied in primary school at [Nanded](/source/Nanded). He subsequently moved to [Pune](/source/Pune) and enrolled in a military school. He is an alumnus of the [National Defence Academy](/source/National_Defence_Academy) (61st Course), the [Air Force Academy](/source/Air_Force_Academy_(India)) and the [Defence Services Staff College](/source/Defence_Services_Staff_College), [Wellington](/source/Wellington_Cantonment) (DSSC).https://indianairforce.nic.in/chief-of-the-air-staff/ ==Career== Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari was commissioned in the [Indian Air Force](/source/Indian_Air_Force) as a fighter pilot on 29 December 1982 from the [Air Force Academy](/source/Air_Force_Academy_(India)), Dundigal. During his career spanning over four decades, he has held various staff and instructional appointments and served in a wide spectrum of terrain. He is a Category 'A' [qualified flying instructor](/source/qualified_flying_instructor), and Instrument Rating Instructor and examiner. He has a flying experience of over 3800 hours on various fighter aircraft including [MiG-21](/source/MiG-21), [MiG-23MF](/source/MiG-23), [MiG-29](/source/MiG-29) and [Su-30MKI](/source/Su-30MKI). He was also a pioneer member of the [Surya Kiran](/source/Surya_Kiran) Aerobatic Display Team.{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/air-marshal-v-r-chaudhari-to-take-over-as-chief-of-iafs-western-air-command/articleshow/77157744.cms|title=Air Marshal V R Chaudhari to take over as chief of IAF's Western Air Command|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=2020-07-25}} As a fighter pilot, he flew operational missions during [Operation Meghdoot](/source/Operation_Meghdoot) and [Operation Safed Sagar](/source/Operation_Safed_Sagar).{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/vivek-ram-chaudhari-indian-air-force-iaf-chief-1859095-2021-09-30|title = Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari takes over as Indian Air Force chief}} He has commanded the MiG-29 squadron, [No. 28 Squadron IAF](/source/No._28_Squadron_IAF) at [Jamnagar](/source/Jamnagar) and the forward base in [Awantipora](/source/Awantipora) in [Jammu and Kashmir](/source/Jammu_and_Kashmir_(state)). He also served as the chief operations officer of the [Srinagar Air Force Station](/source/Srinagar_Air_Force_Station).{{cite web |title=Service Record for Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari 16978 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16978 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}} ===Flag officer=== As an [Air commodore](/source/air_commodore_(India)), he served as the Air assistant to the then [Chief of Air Staff](/source/Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)), [Air Chief Marshal](/source/Air_chief_marshal_(India)) [Pradeep Vasant Naik](/source/Pradeep_Vasant_Naik). He subsequently commanded the [Lohegaon Air base](/source/Lohegaon_Air_Force_Station) in [Pune](/source/Pune). He has also served as an instructor at DSSC Wellington as well as Defence Services Command and Staff College at [Lusaka](/source/Lusaka), [Zambia](/source/Zambia). After promotion to [Air Vice Marshal](/source/Air_vice_marshal_(India)), he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence) at Air headquarters and as the Deputy Commandant at the [Air Force Academy](/source/Air_Force_Academy_(India)), Dundigal.{{cite web|date=2018-10-02|title=Air Marshal VR Chaudhari AVSM VM takes over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=183889}} He subsequently was appointed the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officers). On 2 October 2018 he took over as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters, New Delhi. A year later, on 1 October 2019 he was appointed as Senior Air Staff Officer of the [Eastern Air Command](/source/Eastern_Air_Command_(India)) in [Shillong](/source/Shillong).{{cite tweet |number=1179967636622307328 |user=proshillong |title=Air Mshl VR Chaudhari AVSM VM took over as Senior Air Staff Officer at EAC, #Shillong on 03 Oct 19. He is a Cat-A QFI, with over 3800 hrs of flying exp on various fighter aircraft. Prior to this assignment, he was the DCAS at Air HQ. |date=2019-10-03}} On 1 August 2020, he took over as the [Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command](/source/Air_Officer_Commanding-in-Chief_Western_Air_Command) succeeding [Air Marshal](/source/Air_marshal_(India)) [Balakrishnan Suresh](/source/Balakrishnan_Suresh). A year later, on 1 July 2021 he took over as the 45th [Vice Chief of the Air Staff](/source/Vice_Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)) succeeding [Air Marshal](/source/Air_marshal_(India)) [Harjit Singh Arora](/source/Harjit_Singh_Arora) who superannuated from service on 30 June 2021. ===Chief of Air Staff=== On 21 September 2021, the [Government of India](/source/Government_of_India) appointed [Air Marshal](/source/Air_marshal_(India)) Vivek Ram Chaudhari as the next [Chief of the Air Staff](/source/Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)). On 30 September 2021, he took over as the 27th Chief of the Air Staff succeeding Air Chief Marshal [Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.](/source/R._K._S._Bhadauria){{Cite web |title=Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari Takes Charge As New Air Force Chief |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-chief-marshal-vivek-ram-chaudhari-takes-charge-as-new-air-force-chief-2559272 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=NDTV.com}} He retired on 30 September 2024 after four decades of service and was succeeded by Air Marshal [Amar Preet Singh](/source/Amar_Preet_Singh).{{Citation |title=Amar Preet Singh |date=2024-10-10 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amar_Preet_Singh#cite_note-:2-2 |access-date=2024-10-10 |language=en}}thumb|CAS VR Chaudhari at 91st Air Force Day Parade == Honours and decorations == During his career, he has been awarded the [Vayu Sena Medal](/source/Vayu_Sena_Medal) in 2004, the [Ati Vishisht Seva Medal](/source/Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal) in 2015 {{cite web |date=2015-04-26 |title=President Confers Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=118733 |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}} and the [Param Vishisht Seva Medal](/source/Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal) in 2021{{cite web |date=25 January 2021 |title=President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1692363 |publisher=PIB}} for his service. {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|width=106|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|type=award-star}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|width=106|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg}} | |- | colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Samanya_Seva_medal.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Operation_Vijay_star.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Siachen Glacier Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Parakram medal.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=75yearmedal.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}} |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | colspan="2" |[Param Vishisht Seva Medal](/source/Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal) | colspan="2" |[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal](/source/Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal) |- |[Vayu Sena Medal](/source/Vayu_Sena_Medal) | colspan="2" |[Samanya Seva Medal](/source/Samanya_Seva_Medal) |[Operation Vijay Star](/source/Operation_Vijay_Star) |- | colspan="1" |[Special Service Medal](/source/Indian_military_decorations) | colspan="1" |[Siachen Glacier Medal](/source/Siachen_Glacier_Medal) | colspan="1" |[Operation Vijay Medal](/source/Operation_Vijay_Medal) |[Operation Parakram Medal](/source/Operation_Parakram_Medal) |- |[Sainya Seva Medal](/source/Sainya_Seva_Medal) |[High Altitude Service Medal](/source/Indian_military_decorations) |[Videsh Seva Medal](/source/Indian_military_decorations) |[75th Anniversary of Independence Medal](/source/75th_Independence_Anniversary_Medal_(India)) |- |[50th Independence Anniversary Medal](/source/50th_Independence_Anniversary_Medal) |[30 Years Long Service Medal](/source/Indian_military_decorations) |[20 Years Long Service Medal](/source/Indian_military_decorations) | colspan="2" |[9 Years Long Service Medal](/source/Indian_military_decorations) |} == Personal life == He is married to Neeta Chaudhari. They have two sons. His son Mihir Chaudhary is also an officer in Indian Air Force.{{Cite web |title=IAF chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari: Ready for any eventuality, focus on being atmanirbhar |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iaf-chief-vivek-ram-chaudhari-china-border-fighter-aircraft-atmanirbhar-1859449-2021-10-01}} ==Dates of rank== {|class="wikitable" style="background:white" ! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date of rank |- | align="center" |64x64px |[Pilot Officer](/source/Pilot_Officer) |Indian Air Force |29 December 1982 |- |align="center" |64x64px|| [Flying Officer](/source/Flying_officer) || Indian Air Force || 29 December 1983{{cite web |title=Service Record of Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16978 |access-date=11 December 2021 |language=en}} |- | align="center" |64x64px |[Flight Lieutenant](/source/Flight_Lieutenant) |Indian Air Force |21 December 1987 |- |align="center" |64x64px|| [Squadron Leader](/source/Squadron_Leader) || Indian Air Force || 29 December 1993 |- |align="center" |64x64px|| [Wing Commander](/source/Wing_commander_(rank)) || Indian Air Force || 17 May 1999 |- |align="center" |64x64px|| [Group Captain](/source/Group_Captain) || Indian Air Force || 1 March 2006 |- |align="center" |65x65px|| [Air Commodore](/source/Air_commodore_(India)) || Indian Air Force || 1 September 2009 |- |align="center" |65x65px|| [Air Vice Marshal](/source/Air_vice_marshal_(India)) || Indian Air Force || 1 April 2013 |- |align="center" |65x65px|| [Air Marshal](/source/Air_marshal_(India)) || Indian Air Force || 1 October 2018 (AOC-in-C from 1 August 2020) |- |align="center" |65x65px|| [Air Chief Marshal](/source/Air_chief_marshal_(India))
(CAS) || Indian Air Force || 30 September 2021{{cite web |location=[New Delhi](/source/New_Delhi) |date=30 September 2021 |title=Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari Takes Over as the Chief of the Air Staff |url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/air-chief-marshal-vr-chaudhari-takes-over-as-the-chief-of-the-air-staff/ |website=Indian Air Force |language=en}} |- |} == References == {{Reflist}} {{s-start}} {{s-mil}}{{Succession box | title = [Chief of Air Staff](/source/Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)) | years = 30 September 2021 - 30 September 2024 | before = [R. K. S. Bhadauria](/source/R._K._S._Bhadauria) | after = [Amar Preet Singh](/source/Amar_Preet_Singh) }}{{Succession box | title = [Vice Chief of Air Staff](/source/Vice_Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)) | years = 1 July 2021 – 30 September 2021 | before = [Harjit Singh Arora](/source/Harjit_Singh_Arora) | after = [Sandeep Singh](/source/Sandeep_Singh_(air_marshal)) }}{{Succession box | title = Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, [Western Air Command](/source/Western_Air_Command_(India)) | years = 1 August 2020 – 30 June 2021 | before = [Balakrishnan Suresh](/source/Balakrishnan_Suresh) | after = [Balabhadra Radha Krishna](/source/Balabhadra_Radha_Krishna) }}{{Succession box | title = Senior Air Staff Officer [Eastern Air Command](/source/Eastern_Air_Command_(India)) | years = 1 October 2019 – 31 July 2020 | before = [Sandeep Singh](/source/Sandeep_Singh_(IAF)) | after = [Gurcharan Singh Bedi](/source/Gurcharan_Singh_Bedi) }} {{Succession box | title = [Deputy Chief of the Air Staff](/source/Deputy_Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)) | years = 1 October 2018 – 30 September 2019 | before = [Raghunath Nambiar](/source/Raghunath_Nambiar) | after = [Sandeep Singh](/source/Sandeep_Singh_(IAF)) }} {{s-end}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Chaudhari, Vivek Ram}} Category:Living people Category:Chiefs of the Air Staff (India) Category:Vice chiefs of Air Staff (India) Category:Indian Air Force air marshals Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Marathi people Category:People from Nanded district Category:1962 births Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni Category:Air Force Academy (India) alumni Category:Deputy chiefs of Air Staff (India) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Vivek Ram Chaudhari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivek_Ram_Chaudhari) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivek_Ram_Chaudhari?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.